Senior pictures should be more than simply showing up, standing in front of a camera, and taking a few photographs. What makes your Senior Photography experience with us different? At Michael Photography, we believe a successful senior portrait session begins well before the first picture is taken. Our goal is to create a comfortable, personalized experience that results in awesome photographs that reflect each senior’s personality, interests, and individual style.
Every senior is different, and we approach each session with that in mind.
It Starts With Planning
One of the most important parts of a successful senior session is preparation. Before the photography begins, we schedule a consultation appointment for a “Meet and Greet” time. It is important for the senior to feel at ease and know who it is that will be working with them from behind the camera. We will discuss the senior’s ideas, clothing, locations, pricing, interests, and the types of images they like.
Some seniors know exactly what they want. Others aren’t sure where to begin. That’s perfectly fine. We show examples, discuss possibilities, and help develop a plan for the type of session that fits their need.
More Than One Style of Senior Photography
Having different photographic environments gives us more creative options.
Some prefer a traditional portrait, while others want something contemporary and casual. Indoor sessions allow us to carefully control lighting, backgrounds, and the overall appearance of an image. We can create everything from more traditional portraits to contemporary images with a completely different feel.
Outdoor photography or a Location Session bring another set of possibilities. Natural environments, architecture, changing seasons, and different locations can all contribute to the finished photographs.
Neither approach is automatically better. They simply create different looks, which is why having options can be valuable. Not every senior wants the same look.
Rather than forcing every senior into one particular look, we can also create a combination of images and styles that provides variety throughout the session.
Your Interests Can Become Part of the Session
Senior portraits can tell more of a story when they include something that’s important to the senior.
Sports, musical instruments, vehicles, hobbies, collections, uniforms, pets, or other interests can sometimes become part of the photography. These details can make the resulting images much more personal.
The objective isn’t limited to photographing what a senior looks like during their senior year. It’s also an opportunity to capture something about who they are at this particular point in their life.
Lighting and Posing Make a Difference
Professional portrait photography involves much more than having a good camera.
Lighting can change the shape, mood, and dimension of a portrait. Camera position, lens choice, posing, composition, and background selection also affect the finished photograph.
Small adjustments can make a significant difference.
Our goal is to make those technical decisions while keeping the session comfortable and natural for the senior.
Most people aren’t professional models, and they shouldn’t be expected to act like one. You shouldn’t have to know how to pose or what to do in front of the camera—that’s part of our job.
Some seniors are immediately comfortable being photographed. Others need a little time to relax. A good portrait session should allow for that.
We provide direction throughout the session and work toward natural expressions rather than expecting the senior to know exactly what to do.
As the session progresses and the senior becomes more comfortable, that’s often when some of the best images are created.
Our Experience Helps Us Adapt
No two sessions happen under exactly the same conditions.
Outdoor lighting changes. Weather changes. Locations present different challenges. Clothing photographs differently under various types of lighting. And every person responds differently in front of the camera.
Experience allows a photographer to recognize these situations and make adjustments as the session develops.
Rather than relying on one formula for every senior, we can adapt the photography to the person and the circumstances.
The Finished Photographs Still Matter
The senior photography experience of creating senior pictures is important, but ultimately the finished photographs that can be passed down to future generations are what remain.
Our objective is to create a collection with enough variety that seniors and their families have meaningful choices—not simply a group of nearly identical photographs.
Senior portraits can become graduation announcements, wall portraits, albums, gifts for family members, and photographs that will still be important many years after graduation.
That’s why we believe the process deserves care from the initial planning through the finished images.
A Senior Session Should Be Personal
Michael Photography provides a great senior photography experience for students and families in Clio, Genesee County, and surrounding Mid-Michigan communities. Michael personally does all the photography, handles the image presentation, retouches the images, and places your order for tangible prints. We want every senior to have a great experience with us. If you’re beginning to plan for senior pictures, we invite you to explore our senior photography galleries and session information to see all of the different options that are available. Please call us at 810-686-4719 to schedule an appointment or answer any questions.